https://www.afcap.org

Leapfrogging from Rural Hubs to New Markets

Mathenge Mwehe – Kenya

C.E.O - GeoSpatial Africa Limited:

Lecturer - Dept of Geo Information Science,

Maseno University

0. Research Partners

1. Dr Pascal Kaumbutho (CEO)

Kenya Network for Dissemination of Agricultural Technologies [KENDAT]

2. Mr. Peter Njenga (Executive Director)International Forum for Rural Transport and Development [IFRTD]

3. Dr. Niklas SieberTCP International

4. Mr. Mathenge MweheCEO- Geo spatial Afica Limited: Lecturer, Maseno university

1. Background

• This paper is based on an ongoing AFCAP funded project titled “Rural Logistics for Smallholder Farmers to Meet New Agricultural Market Demands”.

Project Objective

1. To analyse existing transport services and logistics.

2. In-depth analysis of the organisation of transport services/logistics in selected value chains.

3. Developing a planning framework for improving the efficiency of transport services in the high value agricultural sub-sector

4. Final Report, Booklet and Dissemination

Leapfrogging from Rural Hubs to New Markets

2. IntroductionRural Access, A logistical nightmare for small scale farmers

Leapfrogging from Rural Hubs to New Markets

• Rural transport logistics provide a major challenge for small scale farmers to deliver produce to the market efficiently, cost effectively, while maintaining quality and standards.

The spatial dispersal(fragmentation) of small scale rural farms also provides big logistical challenge to transporters.

3. Opportunities in Emerging new Markets

Leapfrogging from Rural Hubs to New Markets

• New markets for high value agricultural produce are creating an increased demand for fresh, high quality, agricultural products.

• They represent a good opportunity for rural small-scale farmers to increase incomes from agricultural production and hence lower poverty levels.

4. But,

• The markets require strict adherence to the high Quality Standards demanded by emerging markets and compliance with international food standards.

• They also require a number of innovations with respect to marketing organisation and infrastructures, which have their specific demands for logistic transport services.

• The produce have to be transported timely and efficiently to the market but rural roads conditions a major setback.

5. How can small holder farmers exploit the opportunities in emerging market?

• There is need to improve rural transport services, with a focus on optimal multi-modal solutions at every stage of the transport/marketing chain.

• The produce have to undergo a number of processes, such as cleaning, ripening, greening and de-greening, pre-cooling, and pack line operations.

• Need for a well-equipped and hygienically maintained infrastructural base if rural farmers are to benefit from these markets.

Leapfrogging from Rural Hubs to New Markets

6. Project Context

Six regions in Kenya have been chosen for in-depth analysis

2. Primary data is being collected through interviews;1. Farm survey , 2. Collection /Processing Point Survey, 3. Transport Survey

3. GIS is being used in mapping of the logistic chains

7. Preliminary Findings of the Study

farm CP3 Cold storeCP2 Cold storeCP1 shed

Four-stage logistics system.

This study has identified five generic logistics systems that exist in Kenya.

1st Mile

CP1 Shed

IMTHGV

1st Mile

Nairobi Market

CP3 Cold StorePackagingProcessing

Nairobi

Farm Destination

SF

SF

SF

SF

SF

SF

SF = Small FarmsIMT = Intermediate Means of TransportCP= Collection PointHGV=Heavy Good Vehicles

farm CP2 Cold storeCP1 shed

8. Three Stage Logistics chain.

1st Mile

9. Collective Marketing by Small Holders for Local Markets

Small holders farmers in a village are organized into a confederation of producers, who work towards consolidation of their produce in order to achieve joint economies of scale for marketing.

1st Mile

10. Gender roles in rural agric production and transport

Women: Weeding and land preparation

Women: Harvesting, transporting to CP1, sorting, grading, packing Men: Supervision/

Transport to CP2

90% of workers are women

And therefore the need to engender rural transport logistics

11. Using ICT to improve rural transport logistics

• Geographic Information System (GIS) being used in spatial mapping and geo-visualization of various components of the logistics chains.

• Being used to develop a geo-database that can be used in rural transport logistic planning and management.

• The database attributes can capture various variables of rural transport.

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12. Developing Geo-database for rural transport logistics /chains

•Local community knowledge Integrated Using GIS throughParticipatory mapping

Farms and Collection Point mapping

Creating road geo-database

Mapping also the Rural Un-classified road

13. Network Analysis in GIS

Passable

Not passable

Danger (Broken bridge)

Road Segmentation

1.2 KM

2.7 KM

2.3 KM

Farm

Market

Condition

14. Linear Referencing Operation in GIS

Road segment

State/condition of each Road Segment

Road variables over time period

Dynamic segmentation of rural access roads

15. Route Optimization

• Route maps (farm-Collection points (CP1) - rural roads networks- CP2- market.

• Route optimization by the transporters- shortest route to take to collect the produce.

• Wide application in a number of rural access variables (e.g. road monitoring).

16. Interesting research area- A pilot study on “Geo-marketing tool”• Initial findings of this research open up an interesting research

area in geo-marketing that if support is provided can be explored. • This database can be used to develop a “pilot rural geo-

marketing tool” that integrate GIS and Mobile phone’s Short Messaging Service (SMS).

• Farmers can use this to send Geo coded short message services (sms) to marketers and transporters. Indicating the quantity, type, location of farm and CP code).

• The tool can be used in a wide array of application e.g. road monitoring, repair prioritization e.t.c.

• Explore the Geo-visualization of this in these maps in platforms like Google earth

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17. Conclusion• In-depth analysis of rural logistics chains is necessary

to understanding rural access and mobility.

• Adoption of GIS technology is a necessary prerequisite for rural logistic planning

• The primary product of this study will be a livelihoods focused booklet summarizing the “Understanding of African Logistical and other Value-Chain Operational Components”.

• A livelihoods photo-story of real-life, ground-level happenings and case studies is also under development.

https://www.afcap.org

Thank you

Muito Obrigado

The research continues…The research continues…